Blessings, finally
This is the final part of the story of a woman who says she has finally found the strength to talk about the abuse she endured from an early age, surviving horrors unimaginable to today becoming a manager and CEO. Though she still doesn’t have the courage to reveal her identity publicly, she hopes that her story can encourage others who are hurting to know that there’s always hope at the end of struggle and heartache.
HAVING the baby was no easy feat. I was sick and severely underweight, hence I was placed in a high risk ward as they said the chances were 50/50.
After an agonising one week of trying to have the baby, she was finally born. Though I was too weak to hold her, hearing her cry was good enough for me. I would try to sit up and look happy as I wanted to go home and return to school.
Soon I was released from hospital. And just a few days after being home I returned to school. But my lecturer told me I could not be admitted to class in such a state. I pulled her outside and told her that if I was not given this chance, two lives would be destroyed — mine and my baby’s. She allowed me to stay.
I soon picked up a cleaning job — any job was good for me as I had to put food on the table and find a place to live. Shortly after, I found a small place to rent and I took my child and left my grandmother’s house. As I awaited my final results from university, I continued my cleaning job with great pride. I spent time with my baby and I loved making her laugh uncontrollably.
Soon after, I got my results. To my surprise, I was graduating with honours from The University of the West Indies. I started my job search and not long after I landed a well-paying job. I could not believe it!
I started to buy furniture and got my daughter into a good daycare programme. I later got another job and I was soon able to buy a car.
From there I rekindled a relationship with God and I realised that, though I gave up on him, he never gave up on me. I took my daughter to church every Sunday and she quickly learnt the love of an on-time God.
When I thought I could not be blessed any more, my grandparents gave me a plot of land to build my first house. At first I was reluctant, but my pastor told me not to forsake my heritage. So I went and I started to construct a home. This made the extended family hate me more. Even today some do not speak to me. But one thing’s for sure: Out of all the mess came my beautiful baby girl; so full of life and vision. She became my best friend.
Soon my mother started to refer to me as her “big daughter” and, of course, she loved what was in my pocket. I started to feel an obligation to help her and somehow I craved to have her around. But I soon found out that her intentions weren’t honourable. She threatened to show up at my office to tell people how I was neglecting her. Luckily the day she called the office I picked up the phone and she quickly hung up.
She was always the first to tell people how little I gave her, but she made sure to omit the first 20 years of my life. She never made it to America as her husband lost his Green Card. Her three other children became the source of her pain, and I became the rock in her life; she would confide in me and offer apologies.
Something inside of me was still broken and the first sign of love that walked into my life I became his wife. But I was abused both physically and emotionally. After a few years in that marriage I packed up enough strength to finally let go.
I always had the dream to start my own business and in 2016 God opened a door for me to travel to America to pursue same. Many times I am asked the question, “How did you get here?” Or someone will comment, “You must have links.” I have even lost a few friends because of this as they think I am not telling them the full story.
I realised that I needed to do therapy to face all the things I feared and to let go of the things I think I cannot live without. My therapist told me that she left the first session feeling inspired. I finally had enough courage to let go of a toxic mother and our toxic relationship. I had to accept that she does not love me but she loved the idea that I could help her.
The same stepdad that hated me ended up working for me as a labourer.
Today, my life has never felt more fulfilled! I am spreading my wings in business and the greatest feeling is to hear my daughter tell me how proud she is of me.
How did I get here? I still have no blueprint, but one thing is for sure: I would never change anything in my past, because all events joined forces to push me into my destiny. Today, I am a manager and CEO, but my greatest title is being a mom.
The hardest part was to forgive, but once I did I felt an overwhelming level of freedom. Despite the fallout with my grandma, I still love her endlessly because she helped me when I was helpless. I ensure that she lives comfortably.
I started a small charity at my daughter’s old school. This means everything to me because even one child will benefit from this funding. My next venture is to write a book, and I hope that by sharing this synopsis of my story someone will feel inspired and understand that they are writing their own stories and that they too can get up and make it!
